Forest Managers
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Forest Managers manage the production activities of forestry operations.
Specialisations: Harvest Manager (Forestry), Operations Manager (Forestry).
Formal qualifications are not essential to work as a Forest Manager. Although some workers have a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification or a university degree in forestry studies.
Tasks
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Determines, implements and monitors production strategies, policies and plans.
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Plans details of production activities in terms of output, quality, quantity, cost, time available and labour requirements.
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Controls the operation of production plant and quality procedures through the planning of maintenance, designation of operating hours, and supply of parts and tools.
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Monitors production output and costs, adjusting the processes and resources to minimise costs.
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Informs other managers about production matters.
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Oversees acquisition and installation of new plant and equipment.
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Directs research into production methods, recommending and implementing appropriate initiatives.
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Controls preparation of production records and reports.
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Co-ordinates the implementation of occupational health and safety requirements.
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Directs staff activities and monitors their performance.
Characteristics
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University
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Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Informal or on-the-job
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Practical
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Administrative
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Enterprising
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Sedentary
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Light
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Very Heavy
Outlook
JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. Employment projections data are only produced for occupations at the broad four digit Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) level. While data are not available for this occupation, projections data are available for the parent occupation, Production Managers, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 91% of people employed as Forest Managers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 25 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 48 hours per week in their main job. This is 4 hours more than the all jobs average (44 hours per week).
Sources:Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average.
Industries
Main industries
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Most Forest Managers work in the Agriculture, forestry and fishing industry. They are also employed in industries like:
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.
Regions
Employment across Australia
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Employment by State and Territory (% Share)
State | Forest Managers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 20.0 | 31.6 |
VIC | 28.0 | 25.6 |
QLD | 10.4 | 20.0 |
SA | 8.9 | 7.0 |
WA | 18.0 | 10.8 |
TAS | 12.1 | 2.0 |
NT | 2.0 | 1.0 |
ACT | 0.7 | 1.9 |
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Around 82% of Forest Managers live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.
Tasmania and Western Australia have a large share of employment relative to their population size.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Worker profile
Age and gender
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The median age of Forest Managers is 46 years. This is higher than the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 45 to 54 years.
Females make up 12% of the workforce. This is 36 percentage points below the all jobs average of 48%.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile (% Share)
Age Bracket | Forest Managers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.7 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 1.5 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 13.5 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 27.7 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 31.6 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 16.1 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 6.8 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 2.2 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 46 | 40 |
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Employment Pathways
Education, training and experience
Formal qualifications are not essential to work as a Forest Manager. Although some workers have a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification or a university degree in forestry studies.
Visit
- Course Seeker to search and compare higher education courses.
- ComparED to compare undergraduate and postgraduate student experiences and outcomes.
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Manufacturing VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Forest Managers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 8.0 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 30.9 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 16.2 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 21.9 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 7.5 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 2.7 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 12.7 | 12.5 |
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Skills and Knowledge
Employers look for Production Managers who are reliable, organised and can communicate clearly. Employers also value leadership and planning skills.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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57%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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55%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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55%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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55%
Operation and controlControlling equipment or systems.
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54%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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54%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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54%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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54%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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52%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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52%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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52%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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52%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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50%
Systems evaluationMeasuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
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48%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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46%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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45%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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45%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
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43%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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43%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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43%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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68%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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57%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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55%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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49%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
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48%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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46%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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44%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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41%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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40%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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36%
Building and constructionMaterials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
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36%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
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35%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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35%
GeographyDescribing land, sea, and air, including their physical characteristics, locations, how they work together, and the location of plant, animal, and human life.
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34%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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34%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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34%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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34%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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34%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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31%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
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30%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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61%
Reaction timeQuickly move your hand, finger, or foot when a sound, light, picture or something else appears.
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57%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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55%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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55%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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55%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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55%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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54%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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54%
Multilimb coordinationUse your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.
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52%
Control precisionQuickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
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52%
Depth perceptionDecide which thing is closer or further away from you, or decide how far away it is.
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52%
Static strengthLift, push, pull, or carry things.
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50%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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50%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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50%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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50%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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48%
VisualizationImagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
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45%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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43%
Auditory attentionPay attention to a certain sound when there are other distracting sounds.
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43%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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43%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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77%
Handling and moving objectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
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72%
Doing physically active workUse your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
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68%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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68%
Controlling equipment or machinesOperating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).
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67%
Driving vehicles or equipmentRunning, manoeuvring, navigating, or driving things like forklifts, vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
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65%
Working with mechanical equipmentServicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment.
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65%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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64%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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62%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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61%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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59%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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59%
Coordinating the work of a teamGetting members of a group to work together to finish a task.
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58%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
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55%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
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54%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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54%
Managing payments and ordersMonitoring and controlling resources and the spending of money.
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53%
Scheduling work and activitiesWorking out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
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52%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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49%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
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46%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
Interests and demands
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
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100%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
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81%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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62%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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43%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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29%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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19%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
Values
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76%
IndependenceWork alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
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71%
RelationshipsServe and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
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71%
SupportSupportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
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57%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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57%
RecognitionAdvancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
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52%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
Demands
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99%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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98%
Outdoors, exposed to weatherWork outdoors, exposed to the weather.
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98%
Wear common protective or safety equipmentWear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
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97%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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95%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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95%
In an enclosed vehicle or equipmentWork in a closed vehicle (e.g., car).
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94%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
-
92%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
-
91%
Health and safety of othersTake responsibility for the health and safety of others.
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91%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
90%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
90%
Responsible for outcomesTake responsibility for the results of other people's work.
-
90%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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89%
Dangerous equipmentWork near dangerous equipment like saws, machinery with open moving parts, or moving traffic.
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84%
Exposure to contaminantsBe exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.
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84%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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84%
Loud or uncomfortable soundsBe exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.
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83%
Using your hands to handle, control, or feelSpend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
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80%
Very hot or cold temperaturesWork in very hot or cold temperatures.
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79%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 45-1011.05 - First-Line Supervisors of Logging Workers.
Links and downloads
Research and reports
The Skills Priority List provides a current labour market rating and a future demand rating for nearly 800 occupations nationally. Current labour market ratings are available for occupations at a state and territory level.
Downloads
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Occupation profiles data are available for download.
The Employment Projections are available for download.